Starting July 1, 2013 Florida law’s definition of drug paraphernalia under Statute 893.147 will include:
- metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic smoking pipes, with or without screens, permanent screens, hashish heads, or punctured metal bowls
- water pipes
- carburetion tubes and devices
- chamber pipes
- carburetor pipes
- electric pipes
- air-driven pipes
- chillums; bongs
- ice pipes or chillers
In addition to expanding the list of illegal drug paraphernalia, the bill also makes it a first degree misdemeanor for a person to knowingly and willfully sell or offer for sale at retail any of the above. Subsequent violations are upgraded to a third degree felony punishable up to five years in prison.
The bill has the potential to have substantial negative economic impact on business owners, in addition to bringing more defendants into the already overcrowded criminal justice system.
A final bill analysis is available online for your review.
One interesting note… the bill provides an exception for pipes that are primarily made of briar, meerschaum, clay or corn cob.
For further information on this topic or any legal matter, do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at Anton Castro Law.
